Russian Air Force numbers and procurement plans

Those numbers seem very low. How come aviation week world military inventory has over 300 Su-27's/ Were did you get your sources from? As well, I heard there was at least over 100 MiG-29's still in service.
"World Military Aircraft Inventory". 2014 Aerospace: Aviation Week and Space Technology, January 2014.

Again Combat units only. Time you add those in training units, Demonstration Flights, in repair plants or undergoing upgrades and those in storage...then you have 300 or more.

sepheronx wrote:

franco wrote:

George1 wrote:So MiG-29s are 75 in total including the 14 MiG-29K and 34 MiG-29SMT of former Algerian deal?

Also Su-27s are only 140? I thought their number exceeded 200 aircrafts

Does not include the 29K's, they just started pilot conversion training last month and are not operational yet but it does include the SMT's.
The Combat operational Mig-29 squadrons are at Kursk (2), Millerovo (2) and Erebuni (1). There are many 29's still in training units in at least 9 locations.
Again with the Su-27's, there are 5 squadrons of either Demonstration Flights or training aircraft also. The total above is Combat Units only.

 

OK, that makes more sense about the Su-27's.  Now the ones used for demonstration flights or training flights can also be used for Combat if needed, right?  Or are they lacking in specific equipment?

Yes, they can and in fact the Demo flights at Kubinka, just outside of Moscow, maintain aircraft and pilots as the Reaction Fighters for the Capitals defense. And during the Chechnya wars plus the Georgian conflict, the regular units were so poorly trained and maintained that most combat action came from the pilots and aircraft of the training units... not the case today.

Two more each Su-30SM's and Su-35S delivered to the Air Force. This makes 39 Su-30SM plus another 8 delivered to the Naval Aviation. The Su-35S total is now 38 to go along with the 68 Su-34's.

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/69903/


EDIT:

Add in the known deliveries of 16 Su-30M2, 12 Su-27SM3, 14 Mig-29K and 34 Mig-29SMT = 229 modern multi-role combat aircraft. Another 45 were scheduled to be delivered before years end.

So far, we have not seen any new orders.  Is there any particular reason? Su-35S contract is nearly up, Su-30SM contract is half or so finished (or closer) and Su-30MK2 is nearly complete with exception of Venezuela.  That would mean the facilities will sit idle with no jobs and the Russian airforce is still heavily obsolete (270+ fighters are not even close to the amount of modernization of Russia's total airforce, not to mention Su-34 technically shouldn't be counted as it is a strike plane and not really a true multi-roll aircraft).  Which makes me heavily doubt the 70% modernization by 2020.

Edit: Unless they are waiting for new technologies or something.  I know there is plan for more Su-30's for order.  What about Su-35?  What about others?

sepheronx wrote:So far, we have not seen any new orders.  Is there any particular reason? Su-35S contract is nearly up, Su-30SM contract is half or so finished (or closer) and Su-30MK2 is nearly complete with exception of Venezuela.  That would mean the facilities will sit idle with no jobs and the Russian airforce is still heavily obsolete (270+ fighters are not even close to the amount of modernization of Russia's total airforce, not to mention Su-34 technically shouldn't be counted as it is a strike plane and not really a true multi-roll aircraft).  Which makes me heavily doubt the 70% modernization by 2020.

70% modernization includes the upgraded rebuilds. There has to be 250-300 of those already also.

franco wrote:

sepheronx wrote:So far, we have not seen any new orders.  Is there any particular reason? Su-35S contract is nearly up, Su-30SM contract is half or so finished (or closer) and Su-30MK2 is nearly complete with exception of Venezuela.  That would mean the facilities will sit idle with no jobs and the Russian airforce is still heavily obsolete (270+ fighters are not even close to the amount of modernization of Russia's total airforce, not to mention Su-34 technically shouldn't be counted as it is a strike plane and not really a true multi-roll aircraft).  Which makes me heavily doubt the 70% modernization by 2020.

70% modernization includes the upgraded rebuilds. There has to be 250-300 of those already also.

Hmm, how many Su-27SM, MiG-29SMT, Su-25SM and such there are?  And I noticed that newer technologies are out so it doesnt seem the upgrades are complete (Solt-25 and Gefast & T for Su-25SM) and performance capabilities of the Su-27SM are not really up to snuff (N001V radar needs to be replaced).  150km against fighter target isn't suffice since it would end up against jets like F-15C which have much farther detection/engagement range for similar style aircraft.  Latest F-16's have even much greater radar performance.  Something very odd about the upgrades to Su-27's - very......sub par performance.

sepheronx wrote:

franco wrote:

sepheronx wrote:So far, we have not seen any new orders.  Is there any particular reason? Su-35S contract is nearly up, Su-30SM contract is half or so finished (or closer) and Su-30MK2 is nearly complete with exception of Venezuela.  That would mean the facilities will sit idle with no jobs and the Russian airforce is still heavily obsolete (270+ fighters are not even close to the amount of modernization of Russia's total airforce, not to mention Su-34 technically shouldn't be counted as it is a strike plane and not really a true multi-roll aircraft).  Which makes me heavily doubt the 70% modernization by 2020.

70% modernization includes the upgraded rebuilds. There has to be 250-300 of those already also.

Hmm, how many Su-27SM, MiG-29SMT, Su-25SM and such there are?  And I noticed that newer technologies are out so it doesnt seem the upgrades are complete (Solt-25 and Gefast & T for Su-25SM) and performance capabilities of the Su-27SM are not really up to snuff (N001V radar needs to be replaced).  150km against fighter target isn't suffice since it would end up against jets like F-15C which have much farther detection/engagement range for similar style aircraft.  Latest F-16's have even much greater radar performance.  Something very odd about the upgrades to Su-27's - very......sub par performance.

By the 2020 should be approximately 100 -27SM, 110 -31BM, 140 -25SM and about 50 -24M2.

Bah, not very good besides the MiG-31BM's and Su-25SM.  Those Su-27SM's are barely an upgrade or capable in modern combat against what it would go up against, and those 24M2's are I suppose decent for their intended rolls.  Su-27SM to make it even worth it needs a far better radar like Bars.

What are the chances of more orders of Su-35 and Su-30's?

sepheronx wrote:Bah, not very good besides the MiG-31BM's and Su-25SM.  Those Su-27SM's are barely an upgrade or capable in modern combat against what it would go up against, and those 24M2's are I suppose decent for their intended rolls.  Su-27SM to make it even worth it needs a far better radar like Bars.

What are the chances of more orders of Su-35 and Su-30's?

Ministry of Defense officials talking about another 48 Su-35's plus 60-75 Su-30's. Also talk about 30 or so Mig-35's.

franco wrote:Two more each Su-30SM's and Su-35S delivered to the Air Force. This makes 39 Su-30SM plus another 8 delivered to the Naval Aviation. The Su-35S total is now 38 to go along with the 68 Su-34's.

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/69903/


EDIT:

Add in the known deliveries of 16 Su-30M2, 12 Su-27SM3, 14 Mig-29K and 34 Mig-29SMT = 229 modern multi-role combat aircraft. Another 45 were scheduled to be delivered before years end.  

To this also should be added the approximately 200 Mil-35M's, Mil-28N's and Ka-52's now in service.

George1 wrote:Lets make a summary of 2015 deliveries till now.

MiG-29K:     0
MiG-29SMT: 0
Su-30М2:    0
Su-30SM:  13 (5 Navy, 8 Air Force)
Su-35S:      4
Su-34:      11

So we are missing 10 -29K, 8 -29SMT, 4 -30M2, 12 -30SM, 10 -35S and 5 -34's from planned deliveries??

George1 wrote:

franco wrote:
So we are missing 10 -29K, 8 -29SMT, 4 -30M2, 12 -30SM, 10 -35S and 5 -34's from planned deliveries??

Yes. I don't know only the exact projected number for Su-30SMs. Last year 21 were delivered (18 to AF and 3 to Navy). But must be at this level, more 10-12 to be delivered

In the article I linked yesterday, they said 12 more were due this year.

The Russian Aerospace Forces will receive 16 Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters, 18 Su-30SM Flanker multi-role fighter jets and 11 MiG-31 Foxhound supersonic interceptor aircraft before the end of the year, the aircraft manufacturers told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia is currently carrying out a $325-billion rearmament program to modernize 70-percent of its military equipment by 2020.

"Four units of the Ka-52 attack helicopters were manufactured by Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company. The delivery of 12 more helicopters is scheduled for 2015," the company's managing director, Yury Denisenko, told Shoigu during a conference call.

According to the technical director of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, Alexander Sergunov, two Su-30SM and two Yak-130 combat trainers are ready to be delivered to the army.

"The government contracts provide for the delivery of an additional 16 Su-30SMs and six Yak-130s in 2015. Almost all the aircraft are in the final stage of production," Sergunov said.

In turn, Alexander Karezin, the general director of Nizhny Novgorod Aircraft Building Plant Sokol, reported that the plant had carried out repairs and modernization of six MiG-31BMs. Four of the aircraft have been handed over to the military units where they will be based permanently, two are ready for flight. Five MiG-31BM and two MiG-29UBM will be delivered later this year," he added.

Surprised myself as it conflicts with news from last week. As with all things within the Russian military, one must wait and see.

Modernization of the Russian Aerospace Forces Update to end of 2015

- Dzemgi AB - 2 sqdns of Su-35S w/ Su-30SM
- Ussuri AB - 2 sqdns of Su-27SM w/ Su-30M2
- Domna AB - 2 sqdns of Su-30SM
- Belbek AB - 2 sqdns of Su-27SM w/ Su-30M2
- Krymsk AB - 1 sqdn of Su-27SM3 w/ Su-30M2
- Kursk AB - 2 sqdns of Mig-29SMT
- Millerovo AB - 1 sqdn each of Su-35S & Su-30SM
- Voronezh AB - 2 sqdns of Su-34
- Morozovsk AB - 3 sqdns of Su-34

Mig-31BM upgraded aircraft appear to be mixed into all 6 Mig-31 units. From a sqdn of 12 to a flight of 4.
Su-25SM upgraded aircraft appear to be mixed into all 7 Su-25 units. From a couple to sqdns.

Modernization of the Russian Aerospace Forces into 2016

- Millerovo AB - receives 2nd sqdn of Su-30SM
- Erebuni AB - receives sqdn of Mig-29SMT

End of orders for Su-30SM, -30M2, -35S and Mig-29SMT.
MoD have talked about another 48 Su-35S, 60-75 Su-30SM and 30+ Mig-35 to be ordered.

- Khurba AB - receives 1st sqdn of Su-34

Mig-31BM - conversions continue until 110-130 aircraft are done. Probably 50-60% complete now
Su-25SM - conversions continue until 140-150 aircraft are done. Most original conversions would be complete with upgrades to SM3 standard continuing. UB's conversion to UBM's are starting (~12-16)

Su-27P - 36 are contracted to be upgraded to Su-27SM standards. Appear to be 4 sqdn's (~60) still operational.

Mig-29 - would appear all combat units (3 sqdn) other then -SMT's will be done. There does appear to be a limited -UB to -UBM (2-4) upgrade occurring this year. Would suspect that by the end of 2016 there will only be the 9-13 and 9-13S variants (~50-60) left in service, most likely with the training units at Armavir, Astrakhan and Lipetsk, testing unit at Akhtubinsk and Demonstration unit at Kubinka.

Yak-130 - present orders for the Aerospace Forces will either be complete this year or next, while the Naval Aviation will be complete in 2016.

Naval Aviation

- Novofedorivka NAB - completes conversion to Su-30SM (~16)
- Severomorsk NAB - receives 2 sqdn's of Mig-29K

The aircraft fleet in Kaliningrad is really getting old and IMHO needs to be replaced next.

Kimppis wrote:So does the retirement of those MiG-29s mean that the number of fighters in service will decrease? So if I understood correctly, they are getting replaced by 29SMTs, Su-30SMs and MiG-35s (in the near future), but is that enough?

There are only 3 front line squadrons (>50) left of the older Mig-29 at two bases and they are due to be replaced by at least 52 Su-30SM, Su-35S and Mig-29SMT. All of the replacements are multi-role aircraft from 2 to 5 times more effective per plane then the old ones.